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Kodiak ROAR: Reminders, Opportunities, Achievements & Requests, 
a CSS eCommunication newsletter

  Reminders  
Masterful Teaching      

 
This masterful teaching moment is brought to you by English teacher, Anne Hatch. Through the creation of the 6th Grade Mystery Unit, an interdisciplinary unit of study between English and Science departments, Mrs. Hatch conveys how experiential and hands-on learning can elevate student writing!  

The Masterful Teaching video series provides insights into curriculum design and how our mission at The Colorado Springs School is delivered to children every day. #TeacherFeature

Re-Enrollment for 2016-2017 Closes On Friday!     
 
If you haven't re-enrolled for the 2016-2017 school year, you have until Friday! For questions, please call the Admission Office at (719) 434-3520. We are here to help!

Secure your seat! Re-Enrollment packets close after this week and the Admission Office will transition to making Indexed Tuition decisions and admitting new students. Those families who have not yet re-enrolled may limit their opportunities for placement, scheduling, seminar preferences, and Indexed Tuition awards.  

Login in to your RenWeb account and follow the instructions for completing your re-enrollment packet.

Head's Letter: Students Shining In and Out of the Classsroom

In spite of (or, alternatively because of) the recent "snowpocalypse," our students/athletes/actors have been shining in the classroom, on our courts, and on our stages. These great achievements are due in part to the efforts of our exemplary faculty, coaches, and the members of our parent community who work together to create and support the programs and experiences that set CSS apart from other choices in our region. Here is a partial list of the events and activities that have recently taken place on our campus: 
      
Click here to read Mr. Schubach's February 18, 2016 Head's Letter.

Parents Association Stewards High-Impact Gifts!       


Monetary donations for the school come from various committed CSS supporters: alumni, staff, grandparents and parents. Our most recent gift of more than $13,000 was from the Parents Association comprised of a board of 11 current parents representing the numerous parents and businesses throughout our school and community that support CSS. The collective volunteerism and participation in the Carnival, Fun Run, and Garage Sale is the reason this generous donation was made possible. The gift will support arts and athletics at CSS by sponsoring programs and purchasing several specific items needed by these departments. Please look for future announcements as we bring these new resources to CSS in the coming months.

Click here to read the complete list of gifts purchased by the Parents Association.  
This Week In Sports  

Upper School Basketball:
Friday, February 19, 2016 - CSS at Simla; JV Boys at 4:30 p.m., Varsity girls at 5:45 p.m. and Varsity Boys at 7:15 p.m. (early dismissal for JV and Varsity Boys at 2:30 p.m.).
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - District Girls' quarter-finals at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 - District Boys' quarter-finals at 6:00 p.m.
4th/5th/6th Girls' Basketball:
Thursday, February 18, 2016 - CSS at Skyway Elementary at 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - CSS at Vanguard at 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 25, 2016 - CSS at Gold Camp Elementary at 3:45 p.m.
Announcing CSS Summer Camps
Chess Camp
The Colorado Springs School has been providing camp experiences for 30 years. All programs are open to the public. CSS is thrilled to welcome back long-time partners ---
  • Challenger British Soccer*
  • US Chess and Active Learning Camps
  • Legos*
  • Science Matters in America
  • Mad Science* (NEW in 2016)
We are pleased to announce the return of developmental and skills-based athletic camps:
  • Basketball Camp* with Coach Vicki Vaughan
  • Volleyball Camp* with Coach Misti Johnston and Bre Cullity Williams '09
Click here to view CSS summer camps.

* Indicates these groups will feature a donated campership at the Masterpiece Gala & Auction on April 16, 2016.
Curious About Overnight Camps?  

 

Cheley Colorado Camps is internationally recognized as one of the top summer camps. Owned and operated by the same family since 1921, Cheley offers an amazing summer experience for girls and boys, ages 9-17, among the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Estes Park.

Please come by to learn more about this awesome opportunity by viewing an informational/digital presentation, and visiting with camp staff, other current camp families and alumni.

The Cheley Camps Open House will be hosted at the Head of School's house.    
Thursday, March 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Home of the Sass-Schubach Family
718 E Columbia Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
RSVP at (719)322-8595 or [email protected]   

Cheley Camps will feature a campership at the Masterpiece Gala & Auction on April 16, 2016. This 4-week camp experience is valued
at $5,500!
  Opportunities 
Masterpiece Gala & Auction 
Saturday, April 16, 2016, 5:00 p.m., The Pinery  



Momentum is building for this year's gala & auction. With proceeds to benefit arts and technology, this year's volunteers are actively soliciting auction items and securing sponsorships to highlight this mission-motivated celebration.

Get ready for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) at this year's event as we will boast a tech-savvy platform with online ticketing, mobile bidding, pre-swiped credit cards, bidding scoreboards and easy electronic check-out! Watch your inbox for more details.

Event highlights:
  • Silent Auction featuring items such as student creations, front row seats at graduation, summer camps, community sociables, getaways, and ever-popular themed baskets
  • Wine Cork Pull - Take a chance to pull the best vintage
  • Mix & Mingle - Meet new people with open seating and dining and dessert stations
  • Student performances will captivate the crowd
  • Auctioneer and retired Denver Bronco Reggie Rivers will entertain as guests Raise Your Paddle and participate in the Live Auction. Live auction items will include a 4-week campership at Cheley Colorado Camps in Estes Park and a Mexican Riviera getaway.
  • Finish the evening with s'mores and nightcaps around the campfire overlooking the city.

Childcare available through special Saturday Night Out for K-5th grade students.   

 

Interested in sponsorship opportunities, contact Jessica James, Director of Advancement at (719)434-3506 or [email protected].

 

Interested in donating auction items, contact CSS Parent and Auction Chair, Don Gibson, P'27.

Interested in donating wine to the cork pull, contact CSS Parent, Kristal Alfonso, P'24 or Donna Taylor, P'20, P'18

Interested in sharing a talent/expertise and hosting a Sociable, contact CSS Parent, Lina Klaus, P'27, P'25.
  Achievements 
Achievements  
National Charity League Honors 
Emma W. '18 has served for a year on The National Ticktocker Advisory Council for National Charity League (NCL). She was selected to this 12 person board from 70 applicants across the United States. Most recently, Emma has been selected to be one of three student speakers/presenters at the 2016 Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference for National Charity League in Las Vegas in April 2016. More than 700 mothers will attend the Conference and Emma will be addressing the topics of mentoring among class levels, bonding within a class, and allowing Ticktockers to be proactive in their leadership by setting goals. This council has worked to provide insight and strategic planning for developing opportunities to showcase the strengths of NCL which include community service, leadership development and cultural experiences. Emma and her mother Judy have belonged to the Colorado Springs NCL Chapter for four years.

One of Emma's favorite service projects with NCL is an annual caroling trip at Namaste which is a care facility for people with Alzheimers.  Emma and some of her classmates put together four to five songs with choreography to sing in their different care level units. She also really enjoys serving dinner at Senior Resource Council Holiday Dance.
 

Piaget AP Psych

Last week, the Upper School AP Psychology students met with the PreK and 3rd grade students to test Piaget's stage theory of cognitive development. According to Piaget, children progress through four distinct stages, and before moving on to the next, must master one or more particular conceptual understandings. Children in the "pre-operational" stage must learn conservation of mass, volume, number, etc. in order to be able to move to the concrete operational stage around age 6 or 7. They must also get past "egocentrism," by which Piaget meant they need to develop the ability to accurately describe anther's point of view, Using our own Children's School as their "lab," high schoolers worked in small teams to devise stations where younger students played games and answered questions, comparing the 4 and 5 year olds' cognitive abilities to the 8 and 9 year olds'. Theoretically, they should find students in two distinctly different Piagetian stages of cognitive development.

Click here for photos.

100 Day Celebration

They are 100 days smarter! Kindergarten and 1st Grade students celebrated being in school for 100 days on February 8, 2016 with projects focused on quantitative and mathematical skills. Kindergarten showcased projects they completed at home by presenting 100 objects. One hundred paper airplanes, 100 onion seedlings, 100 hearts, 100 pennies, 100 nickles, 100 flags, 100 vitamins, 100 legos, and100 beads were all thoughtfully organized and arranged to complete their projects.

First graders dressed up as if they were 100 years old. Additional activities and a shared snack between Kindergarten and 1st grade built upon skills such as counting by 5s and counting by 10s to reach 100.

Click here for photos.  

Check out the CSS Facebook page for up-to-date posts and highlights from around campus.
Submit Achievements and Photos  
Parents and teachers are encouraged to submit nominations and digital photos of student achievements to Jessica James, Director of Communications, at [email protected]. These extracurricular achievements make us a well-rounded school and highlight the many unique talents and passions of our student body.  Each week, a diverse selection of achievements is highlighted in ROAR.
  Requests 
Major Vacations and Important Dates for 2016-2017 

Click here for a link to the Major Vacations and Important Dates for 2016-2017 (PDF).

Inclement Weather Procedures
As we are in the throws of winter weather, please let us
  • First, tune into local television and radio stations, or their websites, for listings.
  • Visit the school's website, at www.css.org In the event of a delay or cancellation, the school's website will display prominent weather-related messages. Please refresh the homepage to ensure proper viewing.   
  • The school's Facebook page will announce weather-related news. 
  • Call the school's general line at (719) 475-9747. A recorded message will convey any weather-related announcements.
  • ParentAlert: To receive a text message alert about delays or cancellations, please include your cell phone information in RenWeb. Students may also list their cell phone information. Please be sure your settings are activated to receive text messages. If you did not receive this week's ParentAlert, please contact Nadja Hunter at [email protected].
As always, we encourage each family to use good judgement about the roads and conditions in your area and stay safe. 
Table of Contents: In This Issue
Masterful Teaching
Re-Enrollment Closes Friday
Head's Letter
Parents Association Gift
This Week in Sports
Summer Camps
Curious About Overnight Camps?
Masterpiece Gala and Auction
Achievements
Major Vacations and Important Dates for 2016-2017
Inclement Weather Procedures
Join Our Mailing List
Mission: Through superior academics and mentoring, The Colorado Springs School prepares students to think independently and meet the challenges of a dynamic world with leadership, ingenuity, problem-solving skills, and personal integrity.
To submit content for future Kodiak ROAR communications, please email details to
Jessica James, Director of Communications, at
[email protected].